Apple unveils iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, in a high-stakes design bet

Apple unveiled its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, on Wednesday, September 9, marking a major design shift for the company and a key test for new CEO John Ternus. The device, priced around $2,000, will launch October 23. The Duo unfolds to a screen Apple claims is as intuitive as an iPad, with a titanium frame and reduced visible crease. It arrives as the smartphone market declines, with foldables the only growing category, and Apple is expected to capture nearly a third of that niche market. The launch comes amid pressure on Apple to prove its innovation strength, especially after lagging in AI and disappointing products like the Vision Pro headset. The company also raised prices on its iPhone 18 Pro models by $100, citing component shortages.